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Container ship service to run from Portland to Miami

PORTLAND, Maine — A container ship company plans to connect a string of ports from Portland, Maine, to Miami, and possibly all the way to Galveston, Texas.

New York-based American Feeder Lines plans a hub-and-spoke network connecting smaller ports to larger hub ports. Portland would be part of the New England-Halifax Shuttle, due to begin operations in spring, connecting Portland, Boston and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Portland has lacked regularly scheduled cargo service in recent years.

The Portland Press Herald says the program is getting a boost from the federal Marine Highway Program, which is aimed at reducing air pollution and truck traffic. The company plans to build 10 small container ships in U.S. shipyards to comply with federal laws for domestic shipping.